Taking a More Informed Journey

If you need to know where to find clean, safe, friendly accommodations throughout North America for under $20 per night, one helpful source is “Jim’s Backpacker’s Bible.” An updated fourth edition is now available.

Some budget-travel accommodation networks publish their own handbooks, but their listings are limited to their facilities. “Jim’s Backpacker’s Bible,” published and written by Jim de Cordova, includes independent hostels, facilities that are affiliated with Hostelling International and other budget alternatives such as KOA Kampgrounds.

The locations of the facilities range from Hawaii to the center of New York City. For example, there are 44 facilities listed for Florida and 49 for British Columbia.

The hostels are open to any age and generally offer lodgings in multi-bed dormitories, although many now also have limited space for couples and families. The KOA campgrounds, which are usually located near scenic areas of interest to tourists, often have “Kamping Cabins” with bunk beds. The price for two people is usually lower than $20 each per night.

A new feature in this edition is prices. In the past, de Cordova left prices out because they might have changed by the time readers use the book. But, even if they change, the facilities listed should still be under $20 per bed, per night.

Copies can be ordered for $7.25 from “Jim’s Backpacker’s Bible,” P.O. Box 5650, Santa Monica, CA 90409. Or you can order by credit card by calling (800) 208-7226.

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Student travelers have had help finding their way through foreign lands for the past 30 years from the writers and researchers of the popular “Let’s Go” travel guidebook series. Now budget travelers can get a new form of assistance--the “Let’s Go” map guides.

Each map section covers downtown areas, neighborhoods and a city overview. The pocket-size publications at $7.95 each include up to 40 pages of text that contain practical information on everything from bike rentals to customs, plus descriptions, addresses, phone numbers and prices for affordable restaurants and hotels and entertainment.

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If you are a teacher considering working abroad or a parent who is relocating to a foreign country and you need information on suitable schools for your children, you can find out about facilities in 152 foreign countries in the recently updated 15th edition of ISS Directory of Overseas Schools.

The 584-page publication, which is distributed by Peterson’s, focuses on schools that offer American-based, English-language curricula.

The directory is now available for $34.95 through bookstores or by calling Peterson’s Customer Service at (800) 338-3282.